Mass Shooting At LGBTI Nightclub In Orlando, Florida

At least 42 people have been transported to hospital.

Orlando Police direct family members away from a multiple shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

At least 20 people are dead in a shooting in a LGBTI nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which police labelled an act of "domestic terrorism".

Patrons at the Pulse nightclub were attending a Latin-themed night when the gunman opened fire around 2am on Sunday.

A number of people were shot and patrons fled the club.

An officer working at Pulse nightclub then became engaged in a "gun battle" on the street outside the building with the suspect, who then returned inside where more shots were fired and hostages taken.

Chief John Mina said that there was a three-hour stand-off before SWAT teams stormed the building and shot dead the gunman.

Addressing the media, police said that the suspect appeared to be carrying an assault-type rifle, a handgun and "some type of device on him".

A bomb disposal squad and sniffer dogs were observed at the scene.

Police said they had carried out a "controlled explosion" at the club hours after the shooting broke out, but did not say why that was done. They described the scene as a "fluid situation".

Police said that in addition to the approximately 20 people who were killed, at least another 42 were injured and taken to hospital.

"As we left the club we started hearing shots and we managed to make it to a convenience store down the road."

The New York Daily News has reported that one witness saw "at least two assailants open fire with what sounded like a semi-automatic firearm inside the nightclub and outside the south Orlando venue from a vehicle."